/ ruːd; NAmE / adjective ( ruder , rud·est )
1.
rude (to sb) (about sb/sth) | rude (to do sth) having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings
SYN impolite :
a rude comment
The man was downright rude to us.
She was very rude about my driving.
Why are you so rude to your mother?
It's rude to speak when you're eating.
2.
( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually crude ) connected with sex or the body in a way that people find offensive or embarrassing :
a rude gesture
Someone made a rude noise.
The joke is too rude to repeat.
3.
[ only before noun ] ( formal ) sudden, unpleasant and unexpected :
Those expecting good news will get a rude shock.
If the players think they can win this match easily, they are in for a rude awakening .
4.
( literary ) made in a simple, basic way
SYN primitive :
rude shacks
► rude·ness noun [ U ]:
She was critical to the point of rudeness.
•
IDIOMS
- in rude health
••
SYNONYMS
rude
cheeky ♦ insolent ♦ disrespectful ♦ impertinent ♦ impolite ♦ discourteous
These are all words for people showing a lack of respect for other people.
rude
having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings:
Why are you so rude to your mother?
•
It's rude to speak when you're eating.
cheeky
( BrE informal ) rude in an amusing or an annoying way:
You cheeky monkey!
•
a cheeky grin
NOTE
Cheeky is often used by adults to talk about children's behaviour towards them.
insolent
( rather formal ) extremely rude; not showing respect.
NOTE
Insolent is mainly used to talk about the behaviour of children towards adults.
disrespectful
( rather formal ) showing a lack of respect for sb / sth:
Some people said he had been disrespectful to the President in his last speech.
impertinent
rude; not showing respect.
NOTE
Impertinent is often used by people such as parents and teachers when they are telling children that they are angry with them for being rude:
Don't be impertinent!
impolite
( rather formal ) not behaving in a pleasant way that follows the rules of society:
Some people think it is impolite to ask someone's age.
NOTE
Impolite occurs frequently in the phrases It seemed impolite and It would be impolite .
discourteous
( formal ) having bad manners and not showing respect:
He didn't wish to appear discourteous.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to appear / be / seem / sound rude / cheeky / insolent / disrespectful / impertinent / impolite / discourteous
downright / extremely / really / terribly / very rude / cheeky / insolent / disrespectful / impertinent / impolite / discourteous
rude / cheeky / insolent / disrespectful / impertinent / impolite / discourteous behaviour
rude / cheeky / insolent / disrespectful / impertinent / impolite / discourteous to sb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in sense 4, also uncultured ): from Old French , from Latin rudis unwrought (referring to handicraft), figuratively uncultivated ; related to rudus broken stone.